Sweepstakes Fraud Leads to Extradition from Jamaica

Inspection Service team members who helped secure the suspect’s extradition include L to R: Team Leader Del Alvarez, fraud analysts and former Postal Inspectors Brian Schellhase and Leo Santiago, and Postal Inspectors Otto Fernandez, Bladismir Rojo and Scott Horne.

Postal Inspectors have secured a first-ever extradition from Jamaica for a man accused of sweepstakes fraud.

The case began in 2009 when a South Carolina sheriff contacted Miami Division Inspectors about an elderly woman who had responded to multiple fraudulent sweepstakes offers sent by mail. She lost more than $120,000. Inspectors tracked down the suspect who duped her — and scores of others — through the wire transfers she sent. The suspect’s cell phone contained the names of other individuals in Jamaica who talked people into entering the sweepstakes. They disguised their calls with a device that displayed a U.S. area code to victims.

Inspectors arrested the man and submitted an extradition request to Jamaican authorities. The extradition is the first of its kind granted to any federal law enforcement agency for suspects accused of Jamaican-based telemarketing fraud. The suspect is awaiting trial in Miami.

PMG Writes to Lauderhill Carrier

Lauderhill Letter Carrier Vicki Brown

Postmaster General Megan Brennan sent a commendatory letter to Lauderhill Letter Carrier Vicki Brown to praise the 30-year postal veteran for her "selfless display of civic duty." Brown called 9-1-1 and stayed with her customer until paramedics arrived, after finding the woman in distress in front of her home.

Photo: Amy McCall

Her Heart Belongs to Retail

In February, love was in the air --- and on the retail display --- at the Inverrary Branch. Supervisor, Customer Services Debbie Dhue put her heart into the project and used Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes to create to promote new retail products in the lobby.

Recently, Dhue became a Retail Specialist, a position that will utilize her talents and creativity. As part of the District Retail Team, Dhue will be instrumental in the effective merchandising of products and displays to optimize sales and profitability.

Fort Lauderdale Retail Associates Give Customers Outstanding Service

Fort Lauderdale Retail Associates continue to provide our customers with outstanding customer service.  During the past week, the following Retail Associates earned perfect scores on Retail Customer Experience (RCE) transactions: Tamara Acheson, Colee Finance Unit; Jamie Conner, Oakland Park Branch; Martha Davis, Gateway Finance Unit; Pamela Jenkins, Alridge Station; Virginia Johnson, Melrose Vista Station; Diane North, Sabal Palm Postal Store; and Bridget Weiner, Sawgrass Postal Store.

'Spring Forward' on Sunday, March 8

It’s time to “spring forward.”  Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, March 8, 2015.

With modern technology, most phones autoset and computers automatically update to sync with  the time change.  However, the time change still can be confusing.  Most people remember the trick to clock changing by the old quote of "spring forward, fall backward," which reminds us to set forward our clocks for Daylight Saving Time in the spring and set backward for Standard Time in the fall. 

What is Daylight Saving Time? Its origins go back to Benjamin Franklin who supposedly came up with the idea. The point of setting back the clocks is to give an extra hour of daylight in the afternoon, while having an hour less of daylight in the morning.  Yet, it was not put into practice across most of the United States until 1967.  And beginning in 2007, Daylight Saving Time was expanded --- Americans now observe Daylight Saving Time from the second Sunday of March until the first Sunday of November. 

Likely few people will move the clock hand, or dial, forward an hour exactly at 2:00 am local time. But that's when Daylight Saving Time officially begins on Sunday, March 8. 

During the time change, the National Fire Protection Association and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommend that consumers change the battery in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.      

It's 'Lights, Camera, Action!' Commercial Deadline is March 3

 Lights, camera, action!

All South Florida employees are invited to audition for a television commercial that will debut in the spring. No prior acting experience is required.The new commercial will show employees touting the Postal Service’s advancements while acknowledging that more work remains. It will be the latest ad to feature employees.

To apply, follow these steps:

1. Create a video and state your name, your location, your favorite on-the-job story, and your best  personal quality.

2. Visit the casting call site (link below) to upload your video and complete an online form at https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form?EQBCT=0c21ef95276c40d3ad62a7e0db41213c

3. Select “Submit” to ensure your video is sent.

Submissions are due no later than Tuesday, March 3, at 5 p.m. EST.

The commercial will be filmed in late March. All applicants must receive approval from their manager before selection and production begins.

Postal Pulse to Replace VOE Survey

The U.S. Postal Service soon will introduce the Postal Pulse, a program that aims to improve postal workplaces by better engaging employees and leveraging their ideas and feedback.

The Postal Pulse will replace the Voice of the Employee survey.

The new program will include one survey of the entire USPS workforce in 2015. 
This survey will be administered in March. Beginning in 2016, all employees will be surveyed twice a year.

The Postal Pulse also will include resources to help supervisors interpret the results and put employees’ ideas into action.

The initiative aligns with PMG Megan Brennan’s goal to invest in postal employees.

“As Postmaster General Brennan says, our employees are the bedrock of our success, and their ideas and insights are crucial to our future,” said Chief Human Resources Officer Jeff Williamson. “Through  the Postal Pulse program, we’ll work together to strengthen our workplaces and continue moving our organization forward.” 
Additional details will be announced soon.